Angular tab guide



. July 8, 1941. c. E. JONES AUGULAR TAB GUIDE Filed Oct. 17, 1940 Patented July 8, 1941 ANGULAB TAB GUIDE Charles E. Jones, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Charles L. Barkley and Peyton H. Barkley, a copartnerv ship doing business asC. L. Barkley & Co.

Application October 17, 1940, Serial No. 361,543

10 Claims.

This invention relates to angular guide tabs. An object of the invention is to provide 'a new and novel form of angular guide tab characterized mainly by a strong and rigid construction that may be firmly secured to a guide 'or separating card and formed to makethe indicia to be displayed plainly visible at any angle in front of or over the file drawer.

Devices of this typeh'ave heretofore been constructed either wholly of Celluloid or partly of Celluloid and metal. While attempts have been made to provide a simple and inexpensive confrom the following detail description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

struction, considerable difilculty has been experienced to provide a durable and lasting structure. Celluloid readily deteriorates from human perspiration from the hands and in time dries and becomes brittle. Moreover, Celluloid may be easily split and broken at corners. It frequently warps so that a guide tab will pull free of or be loosened from it. mounting upon the separating card. Whether made of Celluloid or metal, these devices have necessarily had abrupt and sharp corners and edges in order that they might be formed to make the indicia visible from a vertical angle and have support upon the separating cards.

' According to the teachings of the invention, a guide tab or the like is provided that is strong, durable and of a lasting character. The device may be arranged upon the separating card so that it will be firmly held but will, not present abrupt or sharp corners that interfere with the filing or tend to injure the hands or break the fingernails of filing clerks. Due to its rigidity, maximum angular tilting of the face is possible without weakening the structure or requiring additional formations to reinforce the same.

A further object of the invention is to produce the device herein described in a single molding operation and 'to'employ thermoplastic material that is not affected by perspiration or does not tend to dry and become brittle, uniquely possessing the characteristics of not chipping or splitting. I find that an exceptionally novel guide .tab may be formed that will remain clear and will not fog, and will last for years without wearing or requiring replacement.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a guide tab that may be made in asingle operation and of a rigidity that permits the same to be firmly securedto a guide card, the construction uniquely providing an outer convex face adapted as-a lens to magnify the indicia and spread the same sofas to be readable from a vertical or any angular horizontal position.

In the drawing; Y

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a guide or separating card having secured thereto a guide tab embodying the present invention, this view illustrating the visibility of the indicia at a position almost opposite the front of the card;

' Fig. 2 illustrates this separating card and guide tab from an almost vertical position to show the visibility of the indicia in this position;

Fig.3 is a front view of an indicia-bearing slip;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the guide tab mounted upon a separating card;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same at a reduced scale to illustrate the rear wall of the guide tab;

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of a die or mold for producing the guide tab;

Fig. 7 is an end view of a guide tab showing a slightly modified form of slot construction; and

Fig. 8 illustrates a novel form of attaching means for the guide tab. v I

In the drawing, the guide or separating card to which a guide tab embodying the invention is applied i illustrated at 5. vIt may be made of any suitable stifi material, such as cardboard, fiberboard, or heavy paper, which is used .for the purpose of separating filing material in drawers or filing cabinets, and is of any desirable shape, usually provided with a tongue 6 along ,its upper margin to receive a .guide tab. The

exact construction, size and use of guide card 5 may varyaccording to therequirements of any particular situation, and consequently, the reference herein made to a guide cardmay be accepted as including any type of card admitting of any use to which .the invention may be put.

To illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 shows a guide tab I mounted upon tongue 6 of guide card 5 and suitably attached as by gluing or riveting, or both. Essentially, guide tab 1 is a solid mass of material formed as such in a single molding operation, as by injection under considerably high pressures, expressed in terms of 12 tons and upwards, although lower pressures might be used. lransparent or semitransparent material may be used. "Lucite or "tenite or other suitable thermoplastic material capable of being molded in the shape of body herein illustrated is suggested. "Lucite" isknown to have an index of refraction equal to that of glass, and therefore, presents a clear vision of the indicia to be displayed. Thismaterial likewise will not fog or be'aifected by perspiration and may, therefore, be handled indefinitely without deterioration The body of guide tab 1 is formed with two slots 8 and 8. Slot I is adapted to receive a suitable indicia-bearing slip III which may be easily removed for purposes of replacement when so desired. Slot 9 is vertically formed with respect to the position of guide tab 1 when it is upon guide card so as to receive tongue 8, which may be held in this slot as by gluing, indicated at H, or by riveting, indicated at l2, or by both. Relatively, the body of this guide tab I maybe formed as a substantial mass so that it will have a rigidity'and firmness preventing flexing, chipping or warping. By'providing the area indicated by line a of substantial mass, the body will be held in an upright position without the possibility of bending, this also providing sufilcient strength to support the head portion l3 in the tilted position shown.

Moreover, the rear wall Il may be curved outwardly as shown and then upwardly at l5, so that asufilcient portion of head 13 may lie to the rear of the vertical center line in order to allow slot I to be tilted backwardly to any degree necessary to expose the top face of indicia slip l0 and permit vertical reading thereof without necessitating extending the front of head l3 forwardly too far. Front wall It curves upwardly and outwardiy and then rearwardiy at H, providing thereat a rounded corner-like edge that is smooth and of a degree that prevents files, papers or an attendants nails from catching thereagainst, it being noted that anything coming into contact therewith will be readily deflected away or caused to smoothly follow the surface without catching. This is an important item in the use of devices of this type because as constructed heretofore of sheet material it was necessary to form sharp corners or protruding edges to secure stability, which resulted in various articles catching thereagainst and a consequent splitting and chipping of the walls in the course of time.

It will be noted that the top face l8 or what I shall term the window is convex. The curvature of top face I8 is of a degree and character to magnify the indicia to be visible the entire crosswise dimension of the device, thereby very uniquely making it equally visible at any position from a vertical to a horizontal position. Not only is a crosswise spreading effect obtained by reason of the curvature of top face l8, but the indicia is otherwise magnified to have an enlarged appearance in order to make it stand out promi-.

nently. Attention is directed to the fact that the thickness of the body between slot 8 and top face ll increases from the front edge beginning, say, at the part heretofore designated as the rounded corner l1 and continuing rearwardly across the top until practically the rear edge 19 is reached, when it is again of reduced cross section. In other words, the thickness at 20 is greaterthan at 2| so that the proper lens effect may be obtained with proper distribution of the material without producing bulky overhanging portions.

The mass of material in the lower portion having slot 9 formed therein is distributed to secure a rigidity adequately holding the device upon tongue 6. The lower edges of both rear and front walls H and [6 are curved at 22 and 23 likewise to eliminate sharp edges that might interfere with the removal of papers from the file.

It is found that improper light reflections causing glaring effects that deter the clear visibility of the indicia through window ll may be'eliminoted to increase the sharpness of the indicia, as it will appear through the window, by frosting the rear and front walls It and I8 from their lower points 22 and 23 to a line approximating the points I! and I9. This is obtained during the molding operation.

As shown in Fig. 6, the die or mold may comprise the two parts 25 and 28, separable along line 21. A sprue passage 28 communicates with cavity 2! in which the guide tab is formed upon injecting material thereinto. To form the aforesaid frosting, the walls of cavity 29'corresponding to the portions of walls 14 and IE to be frosted may be sanded or otherwise roughened. Any other method of frosting may be employed, but I find this method simple and inexpensive. A core member 30 may be held in the end walls ii, at each side, of cavity 29 so that when parts 25 and 20 are separated, it may be removed with the article produced and thereafter withdrawn to form slot 8. The walls of slot I may be slightly curved as shown to facilitate removal of this core 30. This feature also permits easy insertion and removal of indicia slip I0 and'does not require the width of the slip to be exactly the width of the slot, because if it is slightly greater, the slip may be bowed and inserted.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a simple, inexpensive and durable guide tab is provided that can be firmly held upon a separating card, and, because of its rigidity it can be attached to the projecting tongue 6 only and a very firm grip obtained. The walls I4 and I6 need not extend below the tongue 6 so as to lie below the top edge of card 5, as has been heretofore necessary in prior art structures made of sheet material, in order to secure a sufilcientiy firm grip to be held upon the cardand be given strength to maintain its shape while in use. When the lower portion of a guide tab extends below the top edge of the card, the increased thickness causes an undesirable bulging throughout the entire file drawer. This is completely eliminated in my device. A stronger and more durable device is provided. a

v In order that the guide tab 1 may be easily mounted over and upon tongue 6 of card 5, the front portion or leg 33 of the depending skirt portion 32 is slightly shorter than rear leg 34. The difference in the lengths of these legs acts as a guide in inserting tongue 6 so that a user will have no difiiculty in mounting individual guide tabs.

Fig. 7 illustrates a guide tab herein disclosed with slots 8 and 9 opening into each other at one of their ends. The core portions of the mold used to form these slots may be extended to connect or engage each other so that when the article produced is removed from the dies, these slots are in fact continuous, as shown, and a shoulder 35 is formed to act as a stop for the upper end of tongue 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates a slightly modified but novel form of attachment. A strip of fabric 40 having its inside coated with adhesive 4i may be dipped along its upper outer surface in a cellulose solvent and then inserted in slot 9. The sides of the fabric strip may then be pressed into tight contact with the walls of slot 9 by inserting a card temporarily. The solvent will act as a satisfactory adhesive to cause the fabric to adhere to these walls of slot 9. The card may be removed and the device with the strip of fabric can then be marketed as a unit. When tongue 6 of card is inserted inslot 9 between the fabric strip 40, the gummed inside surfaces of flaps-42 may be moistenedand pressed against the opposite sides of separating-card 5 to effect a secure attachment of guide tab .1 to this card. This form of attachment may eliminate rivets l2 and permit these tabs to be readily attached by the user to the separating or guide cards.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to my be the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. In combination, a guide card, a transparent guide tab and an indicia-bearing strip for said guide tab, said guide tab comprising a substantially solid molded body of thermoplastic material having two slots therein, one of said slots being vertically disposed to receive a marginal edge of said guide card, the other slot being angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal to receive said indicia-bearing strip, the wall structure adjacent the upper end of the vertical slot being of greater thickness than the wall structure defining said vertical slot.

2. In combination. a guide card and a transparent guide tab adapted to receive an indiciabearing strip, said guide tab comprisinga molded body of thermoplastic material having a head portion and a depending skirt portion, each portion having a slot therein, the slot in said skirt.

portion being adapted for the reception of a margin edge of said guide card to mount said guide tab thereon, the slot in said head portion receiving said indicia-bearing strip and a transparent top convex lens face on said head portion for exposing said indicia bearin strip so as-to be visible at any position between the horizontal and the vertical opposite said head portion, the wall between said lens face and the slot in said material having a slotted but rigid head portion and an integrally formed attaching means depending therefrom, said head portion having an exposed convex lens face opposing said slot therein, the thickness of the wall between said slot and said convex lens face being greater at an intermediateportion and tapering to a lesser thickness at its ends, said slot being adapted to receive an indicia-bearing strip visible at said lens face. i

6. In combination, a guide card having an upstanding tab along its topedge, and a transparent guide tab adapted to receive an indicia bearing strip, said transparentguide tab comprising a molded body of transparent thermoplastic material having a slotted but rigid head portion for receiving and displaying said indicia bearing strip, and a depending slotted skirt portion having opposed rigid flanges adapted to embrace said card tab and be supported thereby above the top edge of said card, the wall adjacent the top of said flanges below the slot in said head portion being of greater thickness than the wall of either flange. l

'7. In combination, a guide card having an upstanding tab along its top edge, and a transparent guide tab adapted to receive an indicia bearing strip, said transparent guide tab comprising va molded body of transparent thermoplastic mahead portion being of greater thickness intermediate its ends.

3. An angular transparent guide tab comprising a molded body of transparent thermoplastic material having a head' portion tilted with respect to the horizontal and a vertical depending skirt portion, said head portion having an exposed convex lens face, each portion being provided with a slot therein, the slot in said-head portion being opposed to said convex lens face to receive an indicia-bearing strip therein, said lens face being of lesser radius of curvature than the adjacent wall of the slot in said head portion, the slot in said depending skirt being adapted to receive a marginal edge of a guide car 4. An angular transparent guide tab comprising a molded body of transparent thermoplastic material having a slotted but rigid head portion and a depending slotted skirt portion provided with rigid flanges, the wall structure adjacent the upper end of the slot in said skirt portion being of greater thickness than the wall structure definin said flanges.

5. An angular transparent guide tab comprising a molded body of transparent thermoplastic terial having a slotted but rigid head portion for receiving and displaying said indicia bearing strip, and a depending rigid skirt portion providing a flange structure capable of engaging said card tab and being rigidly supported thereby above the top edge of said card, the wall adjacent the upper end of said flange structure being of greater thickness than the wall of said flange structure.

8. An angular transparent guide tab comprising a molded body of thermoplastic material forming a substantially solid rigid structure that is self sustaining in supported position comprising a depending skirt portion adapted to be placed over the marginal edge of aeguide card,

- and a head portion that is angularly formed with respect to said skirt portion and having a slot therein to receive an indicia bearing strip,

both said skirt portion and said head portion having smooth outer surfaces devoid of sharp angular projections or edges, the walls of said body being of varying thickness and being of a mass at the juncture of said head portion and said skirt portion that is of greater thickness in a transverse direction than the wall structure of said skirt portion.

9. Anangular transparent guide tab comprising a molded body of thermoplastic material having a slotted but rigid head portion, a depending slotted skirt portion, and a solid wall between the slot in said head portion and the upper end of theslot in said skirt portion.

10. An angular transparent guide tab comprising a molded body of thermoplastic material having a-slotted but rigid head portion and a dependin slotted skirt portion provided with rigid flanges, the slot in said skirt portion joining adjacent its'upper end the slot in said head portion. the wall structure on one side of the juncture of said slots being of greater thickness than the wall structure of the adjoining flange.

CHARLES E. JONES. 

